I wrote about Folarin Balogun. The handshake. The grace. The positivity. The perspective. Remarkable guy.

Here is a story about a team coached by Mauricio Pochettino losing its star striker... and doing something historic:

Last year, Malik Tillman was still searching for his place in the national team. On Wednesday, he etched himself into program history with a free kick goal against Bosnia. It was a moment he had been rehearsing for weeks. With @henrybushnell.bsky.social: www.nytimes.com/athletic/741...

Per Fox & Telemundo, more than 33 million people in the U.S. watched last night's USMNT win over Bosnia. By far the most-watched soccer telecast in American history. Comparable with NFL playoffs. Tops almost all World Series and NBA Finals games. Huge number. And Monday will be even higher.

This is the biggest moment in American men's soccer history. Not the deepest World Cup run. Not the biggest USMNT accomplishment. (Yet.) But a night, and a week, and a month unlike any other. Column from Santa Clara — but really from all across America:

USMNT starting lineup as expected for tonight, same as the World Cup opener: Matt Freese; Alex Freeman, Chris Richards, Tim Ream, Antonee Robinson; Tyler Adams, Malik Tillman; Sergiño Dest, Weston McKennie, Christian Pulisic; Folarin Balogun

The USMNT has used brainwave technology to help prepare players for World Cup penalty shootouts. “Everybody talks about being 'in the zone' ... (staff) can actually track these brainwaves and help you get into that zone." Much more, free to read @theathletic.com, w/ @paultenorio.bsky.social:

Christian Pulisic hasn't played 90 minutes in over three months. He hasn't played more than 61 minutes in over two months. When asked today if he was ready to play 90 or even 120 against Bosnia, he said: "Yeah" “I felt great in the last game against Turkey. ... I’m definitely ready to go.”

USMNT opens Bosnia prep with 23 of 26 players fit and training. Auston Trusty (ankle) and Cristian Roldan (muscle strain) considered “day to day.” Mark McKenzie has an irritated foot. “Not injured” and will be back tomorrow, per team spokesman. Everyone else good to go.

Iconic. (And then, even better, they promptly conceded a goal to preserve the preferred knockout-round matchup.)

Here's a fun USMNT story, and quote, that I never thought I'd write. “Ever heard of rage-baiting?” Tim Ream said. “We have a lot of guys who are very good at rage-baiting.” Others laugh when told about Ream's line. "I’m surprised Tim knew that word," Chris Richards said w/ a smile. But it's apt.

The USMNT's most likely opponents en route to a World Cup semi would be: 🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina 🇧🇪 Belgium 🇪🇸 Spain Obviously, upsets can happen. Colombia or Portugal could enter the fray. But 🇺🇸, 🇪🇸, 🇧🇪 now confirmed as the three group winners in this quadrant of bracket

Exclusive US Soccer has made Pochettino an offer to extend contract by four years & lead USMNT at 2030 World Cup. Proposal made pre-tournament to signpost interest in keeping Poch. All parties agreed to make final decision after ‘26 WC www.nytimes.com/athletic/739...

The USMNT makes nine lineup changes for tonight's game against Turkey. The starting XI: Matt Turner Joe Scally Miles Robinson Mark McKenzie Auston Trusty Sebastian Berhalter Weston McKennie Gio Reyna Brenden Aaronson Tim Weah Ricardo Pepi

If you’re looking for USMNT gameday reading, may I suggest the book that’s been on my bedside table throughout the World Cup… @leanderalphabet.bsky.social did an astounding job capturing the past and present of the national team. It’s a must read for U.S. men’s soccer fans

Bosnia beats Qatar, and *almost certainly* will be the USMNT's opponent in the Round of 32 on July 1 in Santa Clara. Why not 100% confirmed? Explained here: www.nytimes.com/athletic/liv...

How did Country Roads become the unofficial USMNT World Cup anthem? You probably saw a partially true version of the story earlier this week. Here is the full, real story — ft. last-minute texts, inspiration from England/Wonderwall, and more:

This @paultenorio.bsky.social piece, setting the scene from Mauricio Pochettino's office, and tying it together with how he's led the USMNT over the past 20 months, is a great read:

It's perhaps the defining image of the USMNT's World Cup thus far. What's the story behind it? I spoke with Mark McKenzie about how a postgame prayer, shared by a small group of religious players, became something more — something that "invites people into what this team is about":

A defiant performance. A unifying message. From SoFi, story on Iran, feeling "oppressed" but close to making history:

Belgium has looked dreadful at this World Cup. And the USMNT's knockout-round path looks increasingly tame. Whether it's Egypt, Belgium, Iran or even New Zealand that ultimately tops Group G, the U.S. should now be favored to get to the quarterfinals.

On flight from Seattle back to Southern California… The World Cup is everywhere. It’s not just the USMNT. The event, the tournament, the soccer is captivating this country.

USMNT players only learned a few hours before kickoff that Christian Pulisic wouldn't be playing vs. Australia. But they weren't surprised or shocked. "It wasn’t like a Plan B," Folarin Balogun said. Instead, they turned Friday into proof that their true star is the collective:

The USMNT, like Mexico, clinches its 2026 World Cup group with a game to spare. U.S. wins Group D and will play its Round of 32 game on July 1 in the Bay Area. The opponent? Most likely Bosnia. These are all the possibilities, per @theathletic.com's forecast tool:

The USMNT rolls into the World Cup knockout rounds like never before. w/ @paultenorio.bsky.social and @tombogert.bsky.social (and plenty more to come):

📍Seattle. Today will be one of the coolest days in American men’s soccer history. Atmosphere has been building since 8 a.m. We @theathletic.com are covering U.S.-Australia, and everything around it, live right here: www.nytimes.com/athletic/liv...

The only glimpse we got of Christian Pulisic today: walking to join a pre-warmup huddle, trailed by performance/medical staffers. He subsequently went into the gym and did not start the training session with teammates. 24 hours til kickoff vs. Australia. Poch will give official status update later

Christian Pulisic still in the gym at the start of USMNT training, separate from the group for a third straight day due to his injury. He appears to have some sort of compression sleeve around his injured left calf area while doing exercises. Team spox says “day to day” still, “modified training”

Iran v. New Zealand ended around 8pm here in Los Angeles. At 10:07pm, Iran players were on a bus bound for the airport, forced by World Cup organizers to fly back tonight rather than stay + recover. “Everything is like a disaster for us," Mehdi Taremi said. Story from the scene @theathletic.com:

📍 Tehrangeles Live coverage of Iran-New Zealand, the scene around it, the enforcement of the flag ban, and much more is right here @theathletic.com: www.nytimes.com/athletic/liv...

The USMNT can win Group D with a game to spare if it beats Australia and gets some help. Why? Because of FIFA's new tiebreaker rules, which are different from past World Cups. Explained @theathletic.com:

Friday night was more than a triumphant USMNT win. It was, as Weston McKennie said, a perfect counter to "the people (who) maybe say, 'Oh, soccer's boring'." Wes spoke eloquently about how this World Cup is going to change soccer in America, and he knew that Friday was the perfect first step:

For eight years, we talked about potential. And about Friday, June 12, 2026, as the moment this USMNT would have to meet. On a near-perfect night at SoFi, they met it, and maybe, just maybe, took U.S. men's soccer into a new era. Column @theathletic.com: www.nytimes.com/athletic/735...

Gio Reyna just said his wife, Chloe, is pregnant. Seriously. He'd been waiting for the right moment to announce it, and decided this — a goal in the World Cup opener — was it.

The (almost) perfect World Cup start. What a night.

USMNT lineup exactly as expected for the World Cup opener v Paraguay: Matt Freese; Alex Freeman, Chris Richards, Tim Ream, Antonee Robinson; Tyler Adams, Malik Tillman; Sergiño Dest, Weston McKennie, Christian Pulisic; Folarin Balogun

📍Inglewood, Calif. The day has finally arrived. @theathletic.com’s live coverage of USMNT-Paraguay — including some early reporting on lots of fans who bought tickets last-minute at less than half FIFA’s original price — is right here: www.nytimes.com/athletic/liv... Vamos!

Tonight, America will learn about Mauricio Pochettino, the most accomplished coach the USMNT has ever had. How did U.S. Soccer get (and pay for) him? In the most American way possible: rich people. (w/ @paultenorio.bsky.social)

There is a World Cup game in the United States today. Incredible. And @theathletic.com's coverage is unparalleled. I promise you. So much going on, and my brain works so methodically, that I haven't had time to promote much of it. But please go find it. And follow along tonight.

A couple 13-year-olds stood on a hotel stairwell 14 years ago throwing wads of gum at a palm tree at a U-14 YNT camp. They couldn't have imagined they'd lead their country at the 2026 World Cup. On the decades-long bonds of this #USMNT overcoming any pressures. www.nytimes.com/athletic/735...

FIFA (supposedly) has rules for broadcasters during World Cup hydration breaks. Fox broke them during the very first game, and even missed match action showing commercials...

Where does the 2026 USMNT come from? And how did they ascend from soccer-loving kids to the World Cup? Story + data viz on the many paths to the U.S. World Cup team, w/ @emilygiam.bsky.social: www.nytimes.com/athletic/734...

Cannot stop thinking about this four seconds of video, two nights before a World Cup opener... (via Tyler Adams on IG)

🇺🇸 a beginner's guide to the USMNT at the 2026 World Cup 🇺🇸 share with your friends, your parents, your soccer-agnostic neighbors, your annoying coworkers, anyone who needs educating:

So much work went into the Stars of Soccer, The Athletic’s World Cup player guide. From legends of the game to the sport's best players, rising stars and others you'll see standout this summer. Super cool interactive project for readers. www.nytimes.com/athletic/int...

🚨 @theathletic.com's World Cup simulator is live 🚨 Incredibly cool, interactive tool where you can play out any set of results, in any group, and see how it impacts any given team's probability of advancing: www.nytimes.com/athletic/int...

Why has the United States, the richest and most successful sporting country in the world, never produced a world-class men's soccer superstar? In a word: culture. (And a "broken" system.) Full piece, free to read @theathletic.com:

2.5 years ago, Sebastian Berhalter asked his dad if he had a chance to make a USMNT roster. "We had to have a real, honest conversation," Gregg tells @theathletic.com. And it helped drive Seb to the World Cup. Feature on the Berhalters' latest WC chapter, free to read:

In his first interview since being kicked out of the US, FIFA referee Omar Artan tells’s the NYT’s Matt Bigg that the biggest dream of his professional life has been shattered. The World Cup ref was questioned for 11 hours, held in a cell and then dumped on a plane. www.nytimes.com/2026/06/09/w...

Why has the United States, the richest and most successful sporting country in the world, never produced a world-class men's soccer superstar? In a word: culture. (And a "broken" system.) Full piece, free to read @theathletic.com: